Economist drops F-bomb on morning television

Economist Shamubeel Eaqub. Photo / TVNZ

An economist has caused quite a stir after he dropped the 'f-bomb' on television this morning.

Economist Shamubeel Eaqub was speaking about immigration policy on TVNZ's Q+A programme when he let the word slip.

"You know, you've got to have a bit of balance here, and I know Winston [Peters] in particular has a big thing about family reunification, get f****** real."

The outburst caused laughs from a surprised Michael Parkin, and fellow guests Don Brash and Paul Spooney.

Soon after, Parkin said, "we'll await our complaint from the BSA".

Parkin later commented on Twitter: "That was flirting with disaster @SEaqub, the last person I had swearing on camera ended up on dancing with the stars."

That was flirting with disaster @SEaqub, the last person I had swearing on camera ended up on dancing with the stars.

— Michael Parkin (@Michael_Parkin) August 22, 2015

Other famous television gaffes

•Paul Henry caused controversy in 2009 when he read viewer comments that a female guest, Greenpeace worker Stephanie Mills, had a moustache. He then added his own comments, while his co-host Alison Mau pleaded with him to stop."That was a moustache on a lady," he said. "People can say what they see, it's television isn't it?"

•The late Sir Paul Holmes sparked a public outcry in September 2004 after he referred to former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan as a "cheeky darkie". The comments triggered a flurry of publicity in New Zealand and overseas describing the broadcaster as racist and calling for his resignation